High School Pole-vaulter Files Lawsuit Over 1993 Meet InjuryMarch 01, 1995|By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY; Courant Staff WriterEAST HARTFORD — A West Haven student struck in the face by his pole during a pole-vaulting competition in East Hartford is suing the town.

The lawsuit, filed in New Haven Superior Court, states that Chad C. Vanacore of West Haven High School was injured during a track meet at East Hartford High School on April 10, 1993.

Vanacore was competing in the pole vault event in ``a driving rainstorm,'' the suit says, when ``the pole slipped in the pole vault planting box, causing the plaintiff to strike his face with great force on the end of the pole.''

There was a ``palpable snap'' when his nose was fractured, the suit says. He also had cuts and bruises on his head, body and limbs, and has permanent facial scars, it says.

The lawsuit is filed against the town, the board of education, coach William Barron and Irving Black, director of the Eastern Connecticut Track Coaches Association, who organized the meet. It also names the town of Suffield, Suffield's school board and Joseph Sinicrope of Suffield High School as defendants. Sinicrope, who is a coach, was responsible for the supervision of student athletes, the suit states.

Barron was negligent because, among other things, he ``knew or should have known that it was unreasonably dangerous to hold the track meet and, in particular, the pole vault event, due to the driving rain conditions and poor upkeep . . . of the pole vault course and equipment,'' the suit says.

Sam J. Leone, East Hartford's superintendent of schools, would not comment on the lawsuit.